I truly dislike waiting in queues…and I assume you share this sentiment. This is why I understood the importance of achieving elite status with airlines, hotels, and car rental companies at a young age. It’s also the reason I enrolled in their programs.
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry
,
NEXUS
and
CLEAR
So that I can quickly move through security (with CLEAR & TSA PreCheck) and breeze through immigration in the USA (via Global Entry) as well as in Canada (through NEXUS).
If your dislike for lengthy queues matches mine, you might find this suggestion quite useful…
The day before today, I visited Island Vintage, a place I really enjoy for morning meals in Waikiki. Their amazing acai bowls are what usually draw me there, though I’m not too fond of the lengthy queues.
FYI:
My top pick is their Waialua Moana Bowl, featuring açaí with Wailua dark chocolate, Big Island cocoa nibs, homemade coconut peanut butter, locally grown bananas, strawberries, seasonal berries, granola, and Big Island organic unprocessed white honey. Delicious!
Island Vintage is highly sought after, so make sure you get there early.
right
At around 6 am when they open, there’s typically a rather lengthy queue. For my previous three visits, my trick was to phone ahead and pre-order to avoid waiting in line. This is how crowded the line looked last year, and surprisingly, it was even more extensive during my most recent visit.
Watch the video here
.
Watch the video here
.
The last time I visited, which was about three years ago, I found out that they stopped taking orders via telephone and introduced an alternative system—a QR code for online ordering placed near the entrance. Interestingly, none of the approximately 30 to 40 individuals waiting in line seemed to notice or use this option. It’s something worth knowing as you plan your visit.
Watch out for public QR codes.
But this place seemed totally secure, so I placed my order for an acai bowl using my phone.
Nevertheless, you can directly proceed to
Island Vintage’s website
And then proceed from there. The last time I tried this, it indicated that the waiting period would be around 38 minutes, which happened to be exactly the right duration for me to get ready and enjoy a casual walk along the shore from my hotel.
As soon as I arrived, I saw that they relocated the cash register to the entrance of the café, making it more efficient so the queue isn’t as extensive as before; however, it’s still quite lengthy and sluggish.
As I strolled past everybody towards the pickup counter and exited moments later with a delicious bowl in hand, I could sense them wondering, “What’s up with this guy getting his meal so quickly?!”
This applies equally to the Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki as well as to the majority of eateries across the nation.
I understand your thoughts: Why would someone visit Hawaii and dine at the Cheesecake Factory? Normally, I avoid large chain restaurants. However, when traveling with children, it can be incredibly convenient because I can get spaghetti with meatballs along with some flatbread pizzas, which they enjoy immensely. This selection typically provides ample food for everyone. Occasionally, you just require an effortless choice.
This is another tale altogether, yet the essence of this advice revolves around a silver lining from the pandemic: numerous businesses utilized their lull period to enhance their technological capabilities. Consequently, many establishments now provide options for online orders, making both vacations and daily routines considerably more convenient. Whether you’re planning to grab some grub or anything else, verify whether you can place an order online ahead of time and simply collect it later—this way, you avoid spending precious moments queued up. In today’s digital age, countless tasks can easily be handled remotely, so investing a bit of effort into researching these alternatives could save considerable time.
FYI:
In 2022,
Starbucks has at last introduced mobile ordering in key U.S. airports.
However, it’s not offered in hotels; this became clear when I was staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The article was initially published in 2022 and has since been updated.
KEEP READING
- Ways to Cut Costs Using a Stealthy Third Carry-On
- How to Utilize Your Wireless Headphones for Watching In-Flight Films
- 10 Airport Security Hacks Every Traveler Should Know
- Ways to Secure the Optimal Co-Pilot Experience When Flying
- The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
- Never Get Your Valuables Stolen on the Beach
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